Electrolytic cell.



H. C. JENKINS.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1915.

Patented May 30,1916.

HENRY crmnnns ENKINS, or LONDON, mieLANn.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed November 9, 1915. Serial No. 60,553.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY CHARLES; JENKINS, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at 804 Salisbury House, London Wall, London, England,(whose post-oflice address is 804 Salisbury House, London Wall, London,England,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electrolytic cells for thedecomposition of solutions such as aqueous solutions of alkalinechlorids or nitrates and similar purposes and applies more particularlyto cells in which the decomposition is effected without the use of aporous diaphragm separating the liquids lying around the cathode andanode respectively.

The invention is specifically applicable to cells of the bell type andto cells such as are described under my previous Patent No. 1150370 andrefers more particularly to improvements in that part of the cell whichis outside of the bell and is usually the cathode side. But theelectrical connections can be reversed for some usages without affectingthe invention and this side for such usages would then become the anode.

The invention consists broadly in the provision of means by which theelectrolyte around the electrodes (hereinafter called the cathodes)situated outside the bells of nondiaphragmic cells, can have theelectrolytic action concentrated upon the immediate neighborhood ofthese electrodes and the products of the action finally withdrawnwithout at any time unduly disturbing the general horizontalstratification of the cell.

The invention partly consists in an imroved form being given to theouter vessel of the cell whereby its floor is formed into a series ofcorrugations of sawtoothed or of curved form, the width or pitch of suchcorrugations being such that the crest of each corrugation shall comeunder one of the bells that contain the anodes. These bells will usuallybe of an elongated shape and the corrugations will thus lie transverselyacross the floor of the external cell. The valleys between the crestsform receptacles for electrolyte around the cathodes to be now describedand in which that electrolyte can descend in more or less horizontalStratification from the neighborhood of the open base of the bell to thecathode and to its outlet for the products of the electrolytic action.The invention also partly consists in an improved form given to thecathode. The cathodes are made of thegeneral form of two or more pairsof superimposed approximately vertical plates with a central spacebetween the plates forming each pair. All ,the vertical plates aremounted upon a suitable conducting support by which connection can bemade to a bus bar. Each plate of the pair is arranged at a slightlyincreasing distance the one from the other as compared with the distancebetween the plates of the pair next to them so that the plates ofsuccessive pairs are arranged en chelon and a space is left between themthrough which gases can pass, whenthese are evplved on the'activesurface of the cathode, and through which in all cases afilm of liquidcan creep as by the action of the gases or else by virtue of anydifference in densty between the original electrolyte and the productsof the electrolytic action. In this manner a local circulation isfavoredin the immediate neighborhood of thecathode that while involvingthe liquid lying between the plates of the cathode itself does notunduly interfere with the general stratification of the electrolyte inthe cathode portion of the cell proper.

The invention further consists in the ar-- rangement of the cathodeabove the lower part ofthe valleys of the floor of the outer case of thecell and the connection of the said lower part with an outlet from whichthe products are finally discharged by direct displacement as by thesupply of fresh electrolyte in the neighborhood or interior of the belLv Figure I represents a transverse section across a seri s of parallelanodes and cathodes. Fig. I represents a longitudinal sec tion along thecenter of one form of the composite cathode. Fig. 111- represents a planview of one form of the cathode.

The case is taken for illustration where the active surface of -theanode is app-roxi mately horizontal and that of the cathode is vertical.

A A are the anodes; B B are their containing bells; C C are thecathodes; D is one form of inlet to the cell but any other form may beadopted.

e e is the curved floor of the outer case E of the cell that is formedof any suitable material and Which-is shaped into valleys and ridgessubstantially as shown and already described with a groove 7' towardwhich the interior of the cathode is directed and which communicateswith the outlet 9 from the cathode side of the oslh The actual surfaceof the cathodes is formed on pairs of plates such as C C and C C and C-0 suitably supported in'a conducting support such for instance as theplate m with tongues n n, on which distance pieces h h and the plates CC C C C C can be riveted or otherwise suitably supported and throughwhich communication can be made to the electrical bus bar by means ofthe prolongation 3'. Three such pairs of plates are shown but the numberand dimensions can be varied as is required by special considerations.They are however always placed en echelon with a between the severalplates so as to permit the film of liquid or film of liquid with gaseswhen the electrolyte is such that these are evolved to pass in theirparticular directions. This direction will vary according to thechemical character and concentration of the particular electrolyte isuse.

Then the electrolytes are such that gases are evolved duringelectrolysis I' provide covers to the cathodes such as k in which thesegases can he collected and conducted by pipes Z to any suitablereservoir and utilized but in some cases when electrolyzing nitratesthese covers are not necessary.

The action of the cathode described is as follows:- The electrolytic andlocal chemical actions at the surface of the cathode give rise to a filmof product generally of different density to that of the originalelectrolyte and which tends to move in a vertical plane over the surfaceof the plate. In some it also gives ric to the evolution of a film ofgaseous products. These various films pass into the interior of thecomposite cathode, the gases (if any) rise to the top of the same whilethe liquid produced tends to collect toward the lower part of thecathode denser than the original or toward the upper part of the same iflighter, and when the liquid is discharged from the oathode outlets thisliquid "will be from the interior of the cathode and be the liquid thathas remained longest under the electrolytic action.

Having fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire ters Patent is:-

l. An electro ytic cell to secure by of the indicated type comprising acell and a plurality of sponding to the number of cells with which i thecell is provided, an outlet connected to each of said grooves, and asecond electrode adjacent to each of said' outlets.

2. An electrolytic cell of the indicated type comprising a cell and apluralityot bell-shaped tops thereto each containing one of theelectrodes, a floor to theouter' case of the cell, a series of ridges,valleys grooves formed in the said floor and corre sponding to thenumber of bells with which the cell is provided, an outlet connected toeach of the said grooves, and a plurality of second electrodes formed ofplates placed vertically en cizelon with gaps between the edges for thepassage of films of products from electrolysis and spaces behind themfor the return and circulation of liquid.

3. An electrolytic cell. of the indicated type comprising a cell andplurality of hell-shaped tops thereto each containing one of theelectrodes, a floor to the outer case of the cell, a series of ridges,valleys and grooves formed in the said floor and corresponding to thenumber of bells with which the cell is provided, an outlet connected toeach of the said grooves, and a plurality of second electrodes formed oiplates placed vertically above the grooves in the cell floor en echelonwith gaps between the edges for the passage of films of products fromelectrolysis and spaces behind them for the return and circulation ofliquid. 7

4. An electrode comprising a plurality of plates placed vertically onechelon with gaps between the edges for the passage of films of productsfrom electrolysis and spaces behind them for the return and circulationof liquid. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto-set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses this twenty-first day of October,

HENRY CHARLES JENKINS,

A. snisn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained {or five cents each, by addressingthe flomznlsaicncr of Fflfiefitl.

waahington, D. C." i

